Thursday, February 18, 2010

Roger has graciously invited me to contribute to the Soul Cocina blog, and I thought it would be prudent to introduce myself. You can find me on the streets alongside Roger with the ever present Pizzahacker, hacking pizzas and ovens and tomatoes into magical works of art. And now, the requisite "Follow me on Twitter!" if you so desire to listen to my 140 character rantings. Which are sometimes actually interesting.

And so, hello, Soul Cocina followers, (and pau bhaji lovers), and I will leave you with this:

Monday, February 15, 2010

The Next OUTSIDE IN is going ot be very special. A night of Filipino cuisine from the Bay Area's best street food carts, plus food themed musical sets by some top Bay Area DJs. Mark your calendar for March 27th.

Friday, February 05, 2010

Utterly Butterly Delicious Pao Bhaji

Pao Bhajis and "Indian Pizzas" in Mumbai. These Indian 'za's and subs are way tastier than these and these. Probably because this cook grills his tomatoes for a long time before adding the rest of the ingredients, then tops off his Bombay hoaggies and pies with more chopped tomatoes, this time uncooked. Not to mention the fresh bread that is delivered to his stall every morning by the bicycle pao wala. He also said he uses a good pav bhaji masala he gets from his brother. Also, he grills the bread w/ Amul butter. Here is a recipe for from a great little cookbook I picked up in Bombay called "Street Foods of India" It's a summertime recipe actually because of all the tomatoes involved, but in India there are always tomatoes. Pao Bhaji

Tomatoes grilling for pao bhaji at Chowpatty Beach, MumbaiWhatchu talkin' 'bout Willis?! -circa 1983 Amul as an alternative energy source. Meet Amul's mascot, the Utterly Butterly Amul Girl, famous for her witty comments on current affairs across the globe. The Amul company started as a cooperative of dairy farmers from the Kheda District of Gujrat in 1946 in an attempt to eliminate the middleman and ensure that profits go directly to the farmers. The co-op is now owned by over 2 million individual dairy farmers in Gujrat. This system ensures small scale production while enabling the farmers to market and distribute collectively.

Thursday, February 04, 2010

A few weeks ago, the ladies at Little City Gardens picked some braising greens from their garden for my Mexican Feast at Little Baobab. The greens were wonderful and grown just a few blocks from where they were cooked and eaten. They are trying to do what they do best. GROW. Yes grow as in plant a seed and watch it grow, but also grow as in growing bigger. And they could use your help.

Help an Urban Farm Grow!

Little City Gardens is a blossoming urban farming business located in the Mission District of San Francisco. Farmers Brooke Budner and Caitlyn Galloway produce an artisinal salad mix, braising mix and culinary herbs, which they sell weekly to a restaurant, and neighborhood subscribers. As they work, they are developing and analyzing the potential of urban micro-farms to be financially viable within the local market economy. Little City Gardens seeks to serve a diverse population and to build a community dialogue about food systems, by involving and educating members in their processes and problem-solving.

Wednesday, February 03, 2010

To celebrate the debut of hand made products from Wholesome Bakery and Slow Jams at La Victoria Bakery.Come find out what's cooking at La Victoria Bakery on 24th street at Alabama. There are some new chefs and grass roots start ups joining the La Victoria Familia this year. "Sweet corazon De La Mission" on Valentine's eve, Saturday Feb 13th will be the first of many special events at La Victoria celebrating the local community of culinary and musical artists.

FEB 13, VALENTINE"S EVE will mark the debut of products by Wholesome Bakery and Slow Jams at La Victoria Bakery. Soul Cocina will serve dishes from his upcoming weekly menu at La Victoria Bakery at "Sweet Corazon de la Mission"